Ahmed Musa keeps Eagles
on World Cup track
Ahmed Musa was the match winner as Nigeria pipped hosts Kenya 1-0 on Wednesday to stay on track for a place at the 2014 World Cup.
This was coach Stephen Keshi’s first away win in a competitive game.
African champions Nigeria now have eight points from four matches to lead Group F ahead of Malawi, who are on six points after they were held to a goalless draw in Blantyre also on Wednesday by third-placed Namibia.
Nigeria will be guests of Namibia next Wednesday, while Malawi host Kenya in continuation of the qualifying tournament.
The final round of the qualifiers in this group will be staged in September, when Nigeria host Malawi and Kenya are home to Namibia.
CSKA Moscow forward Musa was the hero for the Super Eagles as he scored the match winner at the Moi International Stadium in Kasarani, Nairobi.
The Russia double champion slipped past a Kenya defender on top of the box before he chipped the ball past onrushing Kenya goalkeeper Duncan Ochieng in the 81st minute.
The Jos-born star thus made up for an earlier miss with this superb strike.
In the game that was watched by a capacity crowd, Brown Ideye ought to have given the Eagles the lead as a early as the seventh minute after a defensive slip by Kenya, but his finishing was wayward.
Nnamdi Oduamadi was also clear on goal at the restart but his shot from inside the box when one-on-one with goalkeeper Ochieng was blocked to safety.
With Mikel Obi combining well with Ogenyi Onazi in the midfield, Nigeria kept up the pressure in the second half.
After Ahmed Musa’s goal, Kenya fought back for an equaliser but the defence marshalled by skipper Vincent Enyeama held out to post a clean sheet.
Toloun Tourney France
Mexico 3 – 3 Portugal
Brazil 1 – 1 Nigeria
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES
Egypt 1 – 1 Botswana
Romania 4 – 0 Trinidad/Tobago
Poland 2 – 0 Liechtenstein
Kazakhstan 1 – 2 Bulgaria
New Zealand 0 – 1 Jordan
WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Jamaica 0 – 1 Mexico
Japan 1 – 1 Australia
Oman 1 – 0 Iraq
Lebanon 1 – 1 Korea Rep
Malawi 0 – 0 Namibia
Kenya 0 – 1 Nigeria
NPFL WEEK 16 RESULTS
El Kanemi 1–0 Heartland
Kano Pillars 4 –0 Gombe United
ABS fc 3 — 0 Enyimba
3SC 3 — 1 Nembe City
Akwa Utd 2 abd 0 WarriWolves
Bayelsa Utd 2 — 0 Kaduna Utd
Wikki T. — Kwara Utd
Sunshine — Nasarawa
Lobi Stars — Dolphins
PROF. ONWULIRI CHARITY CUP
5/6/13
Owerri 1 — 1 Oru
8/5/13
Aboh — Ahiazu
